Sheet folding machine



Jan. 8, 1935. J. H. ROBERTS ET AL SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1935 m? WW im Z fir lie-tented Jan. 8,1935 7 Q 7 g t i UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE 7 1,986,857 SHEET FOLDING MACHINE James H. Roberts, Zanesville, and Charles V.

Achauer, Philo, Ohio, assignorsto Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, W. Va, a corporation of West Virginia r Application March 8, 1933, SerlalNo. 660,054 15 Claims. (or. 93-49) This invention relates to sheet folding appara- When smaller blanks are being operated upon tus'andmore especially to an automatic machtheblocks or dogs 11 of the chains 12 may be anism for folding corrugated paper blanks of removed so asto avoid interference with other the type used in shipping box construction. operations and the chains may be covered, if de- The primary object of the invention resides in red, wi thin metal P 1 s mplifying and generally improving prior de-' As the blanks pass forward from the stack 2 vices of thistype; in insuring the production of hey fi st Dfl/SS b h av of D Plates a properly and accurately folded blank and in 13- -W ieh age the b sc y of their providing readily operated adjustments for fold lines and press themagainst the table sureasily and quickly adapting th mech ni t face .while the end portions of the blanks are blanks of varying sizes. being folded into place. -Theplates 13 are sus- Other objects and advantages of the construcpended f om abo and a e dju tab y meuntedz tion will be apparent to those skillediin the art, to ad p to different Sizes of blanks as from. the following description when taken in well as to different positions of. the fold lines.

connection with the accompanying drawing; i The support and adjustment of the presser plates 15 which, l s will be described hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the meche numeral 14 indicates a P Of O anism with. parts broken away for the sake of bending p the end p of-the blanks and thereclearness, andafter turning themdownonthe body portion.

9 Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view These be s extend longitudinally of the'teble of-ithe feed mechanism for the blank in'its initial 1 a are supp r ed by b ackets 15 carried by form and, in itsfolded form. f laterally'adjustable plates 16. Each member 14 Referring to the drawing in more detail the consists ofa narrowstrip or band of metal which numeral 1 indicates atable'of any conventional H has its middle portion ec to brackete construction on which the feeding and folding 15. The forward endsof these stripsare bent out- 25 mechanism is mounted. At the left of table 1 a wardly and downwardly into contact with the top stack of blanks 2 is shown asrnounted behind a of the table .while the rearward ends of the strips crossbar 3 which is supported in spaced relation are bent inwardly and downwardly. It will be: tothe table by brackets 4. Verticallyadjustable. apparent therefore that the ends of the blanks will plates 5" are supported on the cross bar 3 and ride up the forward ends of the foldersfbending 0 serve. to permitthe lowermost blank of the stack at the weakened lines provided in the blanks) 2 t'obe fed forward to the folding mechanism; until they reach the vertical positions indicated it being understood of course that the adjust-'- in Figure 1. As the blanks advance. further toment provides for blanks of different thickness. "ward the rear of the table the 'flaps will be. bent "351 Also-mounted on the'crossbar 3 are brackets 6, inwardly and downwardly, following the contour which are adjustable horizontally and which enof the rear endsof the folders, until they are gage the ends of the stack 2 to maintain it in pressed fiat against the body portion of the blank.

proper condition. The brackets 6 are provided During this advancement of the blank itscen- -with fingers 7' which extend forwardly of. thefl tral portion is held-against the surfaceof the cross-bar 3 and act as guides for the blanks "as tableby the pressed plates 13 which are adjusted .40

they begin their travel to the folding apparatus. "to engage the blank slightly inwardly of its fold The table 1 is provided with a pair of longi lines. It is highly desirable that some means he tudinal openings in which feed chains .8 are provided'to engage theiinterior upper surface of ,mounted. These chains are carried on sprocket the blank atthe fold lines so as to produce a neat wheels-9 fixed to shafts 10 below the tabletop, foldandprevent the bulging orbreaking down and are provided with suitably spaced blocks or of the surface or skin of the blank atthe crease. dogs 11; As will be seen these blocksgll'are ar-, To this end a plurality of arms or fingers 17,18 ranged in pairs so that the lowermost 'blank in and 19 are pivotally mounted on the presser plates the stack will be simultaneously engaged at two 13. The ends of these fingers are forced outwardly points and be carried forward in proper position toward the fold lines by any desired means.- This 50 by the'movement of the chains. Additional feed is accomplishedin the particular apparatus ilchains l2are shown as spaced laterally from the lustrated; by a cfoilspringZO; which ei'itends chains 8. The purpose of these chainsis to asfromthei other end of the finger to-a bracket 21, sist in the feeding of blanks which are 'substanfixed to the presser plate. Aswill be apparent,

'tially larger than those shown in the drawing. the operative ends of the fingers will be constantly pressed against the blank along the lines where it is being creased or folded, thus insuring the desired neatness and exactness of the crease. It is to be noted also that these elements 17, 18 and 19 are mounted entirely on the presser plates 13 and hence bear the same relation to the fold lines so long as the presser plates are adjusted to the guide bars and have their outer ends passed loosely through openings in brackets 24.- Coil. springs 25 surround the rods 23 andhave their respective ends in engagement with one of the brackets 24 and a collar 26, thereby providing the necessary resiliency for the bars 22; Nuts 27 may be employed for adjusting the amount of compression in the springs 25. 7

The plates 16 to which the guide bars 22 are connected and which also form supports for the brackets '15 and folders 14, are adjustably connected to the table 1 by means of the transversely extending slots 28 in the table top and the bolts 29 which project from the plates into the slots.

.Lugs 30 are threaded onto the lower ends of the bolts 29 and serve to lock the plates in adjusted position. To'provide for rapid and accurate adjustment of the'plates 16 the opposed lugs 30 are provided with right and left hand threads respectively which receive similarly threaded shafts 31. These shafts carry sprocket wheels 32 on which are mounted chains 33, and a crank arm 34 is secured to one of the shafts. It will thus be seen that allof the shafts are operated simultaneously and to the same extent so that the plates 16 as well as the guide bars 22 are moved to the same extent in opposite directions, and are always maintained'in parallel relationship during the adjustment; After the plates are properly adjusted they are secured in such position'by tight- 7 ening=up on the bolts 29.

If'it shouldhappen, for one reason or another, that some of the blanks are not accurately folded in passing through the folding mechanism, i. e., one or more of the flaps may be slightly askew, it is highlydesirable that they be trued or aligned before the blank leaves the apparatus. For this purpose a' feed chain 35 is provided with dogs 36 which extend above the table a distance'equal "to or greater than the thickness of the folded blank.

V In the specific form illustrated, the chain 35 is driven from: any desired sourceof power, and this chain 35 drives chainsB'b'y means of sprockets 37, 37 andsprocket chain-37". It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the sprocket 37 is substantially smaller than the sprocket 37. so that thefeed chain 35 willhave a greater speed thanthe feed chains .8. The forward end of the chain 351s located a substantial distance forward of the rear endsof chains 8 and the dogs 36 are so spacedon the chain 35 that by reason of the differences in speed between the two a dog 36 will rise up behind a pair of the dogsll and gradually overtake them. The dog 36 then assumes the propelling force for the folded blank and by reason of its height presses against the edges of the .ingapparatus. v r r The rolls 49 must be adjustable of course to folded blank as well as against the edge of the main body portion.

a This pressure of the dog 36 on the edge of the folded blank tends to straighten out any unevenness in the blank. This action of the dog 36 is increased somewhat by a certain resistance transmitted to the folded blank by a presser plate 38 adjustably suspended from a superstructure which will now be described.

The superstructure comprises a plurality of standards 39 which have their lower ends fixedly secured to the top of the table. The upper ends of the standards are connected and braced by longitudinally and transversely extending rails 40 and 41. The two rails 41 adjacent the rear of the table form a guideway or track for a slidably-mounted carriage 42, from which are suspended a pair of rods 43. The presser plate 38 is secured to the lower ends of rods 43, and its vertical position may be adjusted by means of nuts 44 threaded to the upper ends of the rods, above and below the cross bar of the carriage 42. Adjustment of the carriage transversely of the table is provided by a horizontal shaft 45 which has its inner end in threaded engagement with a bearing 48 on the carriage. The outer end of the shaft passes through a bearing 47 on the rail 40 and is provided with a crank 46. The shaft 45 is held against longitudinal movement by any desired means, as by collars arranged on both sides of the bearing 47. Rotation of the crank 46 and shaft 45 will impart movement to the carriage 42'toward or away from the center line of the table, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft. 'By this adjustment it will be seen that the presser plate 38 may be readily adjusted so as to cause the same to engage the free ends of the flap as the folded blank is advanced along the table. The degree of pressure applied by plate 38 to the blank and hence the degree of resistance of the blank to movement by the dog 36 may be varied by adjusting the nuts 44 to vary the distance between the plate 38 and the surface of the table.

While the. plate 38 functions to compress the free ends of the flaps of the blank against the body thereof, it is highly desirable that pressure be applied to the folded edges of the blank so as to set them, and to provide sharply defined creases at those points. For this purpose a pair of presserrolls 49 is mounted adjacent the rear end of the table; These rolls are loosely mounted on the shaft 50 which is spaced above the table 1 and extends across the path of travel of the blanks. Bolts 51 extend through apertures in the ends of shaft 50 and are anchored to the top of the table. The resilient mou'nting for the v shaft comprises pairs of springs 52 and 53 surrounding each bolt; one of the springs being below and the other above the shaft. By means of this construction the desired pressure is applied to the folded edges of the blanks and setsthe blank in folded form prior to its passage to con-' veyers 54 which remove the blanks from the foldsuit v'arious'sizes of blanks and means has been provided for taking care of this adjustment simultaneously with the adjustment of the guide rods 22 and folders 14. This means consists'of annular grooves 55 formed in the hubs of the rolls .49 and arms 56 fixed to theends of the guide the superstructure of theapparatus in amanner similar to the plate 38. This suspending means comprises a pair of rods 57, 58,, for each plate, which rods have their ends securedtofthe plates. The'upper ends of the rods'57-58 are.

threaded and are adjustably secured to cross bars 59 by means of nuts60. The plates 59are slidably mounted on the two forward rails 41 of the superstructure and are each provided ,with,

threaded bearings 61. Bearings 62 on each of the side-rails 40 are alignedwith the bearings 61, and-provide supports for pairs of shafts63 which have their inner ends threaded into the bearings 61. Rotative force may be applied to shafts 63 through cranks .64,fand by this means the presser plates are adjustedl toward or away from the center line of the table depending upon the size of the blanks being operated upon or upon' the widthbetween the fold lines. The shafts 63 are held against longitudi; nal movement by any desired means, as by col; lars on both sides of the bearings 62.

briefly described, it being assumed that the various adjustments have been previously made adapt-the deviceto the particular blanks beingoperatedupon. As a pair ofdogs 111 reaches'the stack or blanks 2 the lowermost blank will be. carried under the plates 5 and f guided by fingers "7 to the presser plates13. 'Further'movement of the blank will cause the end portionsfthereof to ride upthe inclined portions of. the folder i4 until they reach the vertical positions indicated at the center of Figure 1. Further advancement o'f'the blank will bring the flaps under the downwardly and inwardly curved ends of the folders 14 so that the blank will assume the folded condition indicated at the. right of Figure 1. During the folding of the flaps in the manner just mentioned pressure is applied to the inner edges of the folds by the spring fingers 17,

18 and 19 which prevents the bulging of the inner facing of the blank and provides neat and sharp creases.

During and after the folding operations the blanks are maintained in proper positions by the adjustable guide bars 22. Advancement of the blanks is made by the pairs of dogs 11 until the blanks pass from under the pressure plates 13 and folders 14. At that time the feed chain 35 causes one of the dogs 36 to take up the feeding of the blank, and by reason of the fact that this dog is of sumcient height to press againsttheedges of the folds of the blank a truing or aligning of the fiaps is provided for. This'truing of the folded blank is materially assisted by the presser plate 38 which tends to retard movement of the blank and hence provides the necessary ,force to bring the flaps into alignment. "After leaving the presser plate 38 the folded blank passes under the resiliently mounted presser rolls 49 where the creases in the blank are given a more or less permanent set. v From the above description and accompany- /ing drawing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have provided an automatic folding mechanism whichis a very substantial simplification of prior devices; that it may beeasily and quickly adjusted to adapt it to blanks [of various sizes as well as various dimensions of "modifications and changes may be made without departing from-the spirit of the invention and all such modifications and changes are intended to be includedwithin the scope of' the appended claims. Y 1 .What we claim is: i

1. A blank folding machine including a table, means for advancingtheblanks in succession across the table; means for folding the blanks as they are ,advanced-,'. and ineans carried by the advancing means for engaging the edges of thefolded blanks for truing'the'same, said truing means being movable relative to the folded blank:

in thedirection of the lineof travel.-

2. A. blank folding machine includingla'jtable,

means for advancing the blanks in succession across the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, means for pressing the The operation of the apparatus willnow be a 3.1A blank folding machine including atable', imeansnfor advancing the blanks -in succession part way of the length of the table, means for folding the blanks as they-are advanced, means for pressing the folded blanks, and means engaging the folded blank for truing it and pushing itto the end of the table, said truing means having a height at least substantially equal to the thickness of the blank when folded, and said truing means being movable relative to the folded blank in the direction of the line of travel.

4. A blank folding machine including a table,

means for advancing the blanks in succession part way of the length of the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, means for pressing the folded blanks, a conveyer, a

dog on the conveyer for engaging the edges of the folded blank for truing it and pushing it to the endof the table, said dog having a height substantially equal to the thickness of the folded blank, and said dog being movable relative to the folded blank in the direction of the line of 1 travel.

. 5. A blank folding machine including a table,

an endless conveyer, a plurality of dogs on the a conveyer projecting above the table for engaging the blanks to advance them in succession along the table, means for folding the blanks, a second conveyer, a plurality of dogs on the second conveyer, said last-mentioned dogs having a height at least substantially equal to the thickness of the folded blank, said second conveyer extending beyond the first-mentioned conveyer, and means for driving the second conveyer at a greater speed than the first conveyer, for the purpose described. 1 6. A blank folding machine includinga table, means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for pressing the blank against the table as it is advanced, means for folding the blank, and means pressed outwardly folding the blank; and a series of spring-pressed fingers for engaging the fold lines of the blank as it is being folded.

9. A blank folding machine including a table, means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, a pair of plates for pressing the blank against the table as it is advanced,

means for folding the blank, and a series of spring-fingers mounted on each plate for engaging the fold lines of the blank as it is being folded. g a

10. A blank folding machine including a table, means for advancing'the blanks insuccession along the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, guide bars for-the blanks as they are being folded and advanced along the table, and spring-mounted pressers for engaging the folded edges of the blanks after they leave the folding mechanism. 11. A blank folding machine including a table, means for-advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, adjustably-mounted guide bars for the blanks as they are being folded andadvanced along the table, spring-mounted :pressers for engaging the folded edges of the blanks after they leave the folding mechanism, and connections between said guide bars and pressers.

12. A blank foldingmachine including a table,

means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, adjustably-mounted guide bars for the blanks as they are being foldecl and advanced along the table, a spring-mounted shaft at the rear of the table, and extending across the path of the blanks, presser rolls loosely mounted on the shaft for engaging the folded edges of the blanks after they leave the folding mechanism, and connections between the guide bars and rolls.

13. 'A blank folding machine including a table,

means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for. folding the blanks as they are advanced, a pair of plates slidably mounted on the table, a guide bar for the blanks resiliently connected to each plate, and means for simultaneously adjusting said plates toward or away from the center line of the table.

14. A blank folding machine including a table,

' means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, a pair of presser plates for engaging the central portions of the blanks, a superstructure on the table, a pair of slidably mounted brackets on the superstructure and from which the presser plates are suspended, and threaded shafts for adjustingsaid brackets to- 'ward and from each other.

15. A blank folding machine including a table, means for advancing the blanks in succession along the table, means for folding the blanks as they are advanced, a presser plate for the middle of a folded blank, a superstructure on the table, a bracket slidably mounted on the superstructure and from which the presser plate is suspended, and means for adjusting said bracket and presser plate laterally of the table.

JAMES H. ROBERTS. CHARLES V.- ACHAUER. 

